Aye. 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Let the record reflect that Councilman O'Neill has recused himself. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120212.
An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Farmers' Markets," by adding a permissible location the sidewalk and west curb lane of the west side of the 1400 block of Ridge Avenue from Fairmount Avenue to North 15th Street.
This bill having been read on two separate days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 120249.
An ordinance 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, located at 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments within the City right-of-way on East Service Drive between Civic Center Boulevard and Health Sciences Drive.
This bill having been read on two separate days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. Let the record reflect that Councilman O'Neill has recused himself. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120277.
An ordinance authorizing the striking from the City Plan No. 42-S and abandonment of a right-of-way reserved for drainage purposes, water main purposes, and public utility purposes which extends from the southerly terminus of Galloway Street, south of Packer Avenue, southwardly to 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Pattison Avenue.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 120300.
An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Farmers' Markets," by removing as a permissible location the sidewalk of the east side of South Broad Street between Porter and Ritner Streets and by adding the sidewalk of the east side of South Broad Street between Snyder and Jackson Streets as a permissible location.
This bill having been read on two separate days, the question is shall the bill pass 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions on today's Calendar?
A resolution recognizing KeVen Parker and the Spread the Love Campaign, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
And a resolution recognizing and honoring The 10th Anniversary of the Gary Papa Father's Day Prostate Run, introduced by Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution urging the restoration of the proposed 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING devastating 20 percent cutbacks to the State human service budget by Governor Tom Corbett, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution and request that I be recognized for a few remarks. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you, Mr. President. By introducing this resolution, I'd like to direct the attention of all Pennsylvanians to the eyes-wide-shut pending state budget. Budgets are more than just spreadsheets with numbers and dollar signs. In the end, budgets are really about people, about important government services and programs that the taxpayers and residents of our community rely on 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING every day. As a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and now in my current capacity as a local elected official, I know all too well the human side of the state budget. That's why I find it both perplexing and troubling that Governor Tom Corbett has proposed a massive, devastating 20 percent cut to the Human Services Development Fund, which helps fund essential health and human service programs in counties all across Pennsylvania. As the former Speaker of the House, I'm calling on my former colleagues in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to undo the harm that Governor Corbett plans to inflict on Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens. But who am I talking about when I say the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians? I'm talking about the elderly couple down the street whose adult child has an 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING intellectual disability and needs county services to live a healthy and productive life in the community. I'm talking about the relative or neighbor who continues to struggle with mental health challenges or addiction. I'm talking about providing protection and shelter for children, victims of domestic violence, the homeless and many others who are clinging to the barest thread of hope. Counties provide these services because there are real people in our community who desperately need them and because they help make our community a better place to live. As a society, we provide resources to these programs and services because it's the right thing to do. But no county can assume the responsibility of providing these necessary supports without a shared commitment from state and federal governments. Funding these 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING critical health and human service programs is a necessary partnership. Under Governor Corbett's budget proposal, that partnership would be eroded and the services that help the neediest and most vulnerable in our community would be hurt. What's worse, this 20 percent cut was wrapped in a new proposal that shifts the Human Services Development Fund to a Block Grant that gives county discretion as to how to use the money. That will pit all our disabilities communities in a room fighting with each other. But the flexibility of this Block Grant is completely negated by the damage done by the funding cut. It's not just vulnerable citizens who will be hurt by Governor Corbett's budget cuts; it's also the taxpayers. When the state doesn't meet its obligation to fund these services, it falls on local property taxpayers middle-class workers, families and 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING seniors - to pick up the tab. Some may ask why can't we just eliminate these programs? Some may say we can't afford to keep these services for our most vulnerable. The truth is, we can't afford not to fund these programs. Thousands of Pennsylvanians with mental health challenges, intellectual, physical disabilities, autism and addictions could lose the necessary services that help them live successful lives in our community. With Governor Corbett continuing to slash funding for Medicaid and other life-saving human service programs, those individuals will be left with nowhere to turn for help. With no other options, they will be forced to seek care in hospital emergency rooms or they may wind up homeless or in jail. All of these options carry a much higher price tag than if we properly funded the proven and successful county human service programs. Governor Corbett's budget is 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING not only wrongheaded and shortsighted, it is also unnecessary.
We now know that the money available to properly fund Human Services Development Fund, Pennsylvania's newly formed Independent Fiscal Office earlier this month reported that the Commonwealth is expected to have 815 million in higher-than-expected revenues for this fiscal year and next fiscal year. That means there is more than enough money to restore the cuts to human services as well as to other important budget priorities, including our public schools, our state-owned and stated-related universities and improvements to our roads, bridges and mass transit system. 2 million, but that's still a significant and harmful cut that is simply not necessary. The bottom line is, the money is there, so we 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING should fully fund these programs. I am asking Governor Corbett and all 253 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, please don't lose sight of the faces of this budget. Remember all those people behind the numbers and do what's right for them. They deserve to know that someone is fighting for their interest in Harrisburg. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilman, move for the adoption again.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 5/24/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution honoring and celebrating the Parkside Saints Football Team on winning the unlimited weight class Junior East Coast Football League by defeating the Mastadons from Vineland, New Jersey 19 to 6, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Thank you. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the majority?